“This has been going on right under our noses,” Darian growled as he looked down at the grave Killian found on his way back to the waterfall from the Rizer compound. The grave was in one of the caves on the low side of the mountain. It was deep, but whoever dug the grave kept unburying it to add in additional bodies.

The skeletons on the bottom were in a state of decay that suggested they were older than the bodies on top of them as they were in different stages of decomposition.

As the grave was added to, the bodies were getting nearer the top of the hole until it was shallow enough that animals dug it up and began to feed on what was left. While they were feeding, they drug the bodies toward the opening of the cave and that was what led Killian to the cave.

The wind picked up the smell of human decay and he’d followed the scent recognizing it as human but failing to detect that it was a dead human.

Angeline’s stench is wreaking havoc on my sense of smell. It’s like she’s all around me, inside me and filling my lungs.

As soon as Darian crossed into the downwind current he knew what Killian was going to show him. He’d asked right away if Killian had been forced to kill human hunters in self-defense. Killian told him the human deaths were not of his doing.

“Can you tell me how they died?” Darian asked Killian.

Killian nodded. “If we remove the bodies, I can examine them and most likely give you the cause of death.”

“They’re all women, aren’t they?”

Killian nodded.

“We need to speak with the people of Freebasin and let them know they have a murderer among them. We should flush him out and end him before he takes any more lives.”

And here we go again.

“Darian, you are my alpha and I will obey your wishes but why are we involving ourselves with the problems of the human town? You know as well as I do that even before Aldrich came here, these people refused to have anything to do with our kind. They will blame us for this.”

Darian scowled at Killian. “Not every human is like Aldrich, Killian,” he said raising his voice. “Some of them are good. Like, Cara. The ones who are not sick and twisted deserve to know they are in danger. If you don’t see this then I don’t understand why you want to continue studying medicine. Our kind heal of most things in only a matter of days.”

“It is the science that intrigues me.”

“It used to be your heart that pulled you into helping to save lives.”

That was before my softheartedness brought the human into our midst who murdered Valor. It was before I realized that the worst of what is in this world comes from the humans.

“I will gather the pack to go to Freebasin and tell them of this. You will go and find Cara.”

“I can gather the pack for you, Alpha,” Killian offered.

Darian shook his head. “I see you avoiding Cara. She is my mate and you alpha too.”

“My loyalties are tied to you both,” Killian said attempting to school the anger that was beginning to stir in his chest. “I would protect Cara with my life.”

“Because she is my mate. Not because she is respected as your alpha.”

Killian exhaled still trying to keep hold of his temper. “That is not true. I avoid Cara not because I don’t respect her. If I left human matters alone never saving Aldrich in the first place, then Cara never would have suffered the years of abuse she endured. The wall would not have been built.”

“How long are you going to punish yourself for that? You are the only one who still holds yourself responsible for Valor’s murder. You are not to blame.”

Killian nodded even though he did not agree.

“You let your guilt come between not just you and your Alpha but the entire pack. You’re pulling away, punishing yourself and I refuse to let you. Go and find Cara. Stay with her until we meet you with the pack at Everclear.”

Bowing his head as a show of respect to the alpha, Killian obeyed. He raced away from the cave toward Freebasin as Darian howled summoning the pack.

Killian ran in his human form. The spirit wolf with whom he shared his body was defensive and angry. He would be too difficult to control when the pack went to Freebasin. It wasn’t just Killian who didn’t trust the humans. His wolf was still mourning the loss of their former Alpha. Valor was more than a leader. He was a teacher, and he was the closest thing to a father that Killian had ever known. He’d hoped that killing Aldrich would give him peace over Valor’s death since he would have justice, it didn’t.

Killian spotted Cara coming toward him from the edge of the forest. Darian wouldn’t like it that she’d come so close to Freebasin without him. There were still hunters that wanted to kill shifters and since Aldrich told everyone in his town about the weaknesses of the Rizer pack, the town of Freebasin was the most capable of killing werewolves.

“What’s going on? I heard Darian summoning the pack. Has one of our own been hurt?”

“No. It’s a problem for Freebasin.”

Cara looked back toward the town. “They’re still trying to learn to live without someone telling them what to do every minute of every day. It hasn’t even been a year since the wall came down.”

“I’d like to caution you, Cara. These people were heavily influenced by Aldrich. You must not trust them. Not any of them.”

As Cara looked at him he could feel the power of her alpha wolf spirit even though she wasn’t looking at him with anger, he could feel that Cara’s wolf spirit was not happy with him.

“I am careful but I refuse to hate all for the acts of one. Many humans hate all shifters the same way you hate the humans. Hate is heavy, Killian. I hope that someday soon, you can put it down.”

They were nearing the waterfall, Everclear. The pack was not yet there, which meant Darian was still showing them the mass grave that was within the cave. Part of Killian wanted to take Cara to the cave and show her just how wrong she was to be so trusting and forgiving of the humans. He wanted her to see how ugly and evil they were so she could be safe.

Darian’s orders to wait at Everclear forbid Killian from taking Cara to see that the people of Freebasin were not worth protecting.

“Angeline is a beautiful young woman, isn’t she?”

“If you say so,” Killian grumbled.

Cara laughed. “I saw the way you were looking at her when she wasn’t looking at you. She’s beautiful and brave. Two things I think you need in your life, Killian.”

“No. Don’t even suggest it, Cara. I am not the kind of shifter who wishes to have a mate. I’m not meant to have a predestined mate, like Darian. You must have heard by now how rare it is, what you have with Darian.”

“I have. However,” Cara said wagging her pointer finger at him. “In my travels with Darian, I’ve had the chance to meet other shifter packs.”

Killian groaned. “You’re not about to tell me about the Palmyra wolf pack in the San Juan mountains, are you? They were all sired by Italians. They, live, breathe, and eat romance.”

“Yes, I am,” Cara smiled not the least put off by his obvious distaste. “After their alpha found his predestined mate, most of the pack was blessed with the same fate for their loyalties to the alpha pair. I think that means it isn’t so unlikely you will find your predestined mate. I just hope you’re not too stubborn to recognize her.”

“I know you mean well, Cara. I am very happy for you and Darian but as I said, I am not meant to be mated. My passion is my work. I have no room for a mate in my life.”

Cara bumped shoulders with Killian as she smiled at him. “I hope that’s not true. You should always make room for happiness, Killian.”

Luckily, the pack arrived at the waterfall about then, saving Killian from having to find a way to stop Cara from her mission of trying to talk him into being something he wasn’t.

“What’s happening, Darian?” Cara asked him.

Darian embraced his mate. “A human grave was discovered with several bodies inside. There is a murderer in Freebasin. We can command the pack to come with us to warn the people or we can take a vote and let them choose for themselves.”

“I think we should let them vote, but I have to go and warn them, Darian.” He kissed her holding her tight as though no one else was there to witness their passion.

Good Lord, let’s get on with this already.

“I would like to propose we warn the people of Freebasin but I think it best we allow them to find the killer themselves. We can’t be involved in their government of things. We are allies, not babysitters.”

Darian growled his dislike of Killian’s tone.

“The alternative being that we warn them and track the murderer ourselves?” Cara asked her mate.

Killian could see the way Darian was looking at Cara that he didn’t want her tracking down the man who’d killed more than five women over the past couple months.

“All in favor or tracking the murderer down after we warn them, raise your hand,” Darian commanded.

Killian’s wolf wanted to track the killer, wanted to be part of the hunt to rid the world of anything that reminded him of Aldrich. Killian had to fight to keep his hand down, refusing his spirit wolf.

“All in favor of warning them and letting them handle their problems on their own?”

The majority of the pack, including Killian, raised their hands. Killian didn’t look at Cara because he knew she’d be disappointed. Her nature softened dramatically when she became pregnant and he didn’t think he would be able to take making her upset when she was carrying a new and precious life in her belly.

“We will warn them and we will patrol our borders and land as if we were still hunting Aldrich. I don’t want the murderer anywhere near our home, our children, or our families.”

The pack bowed in acknowledgment to the alpha.

“Errol, Dieter, Helena, scout ahead and tell the town official we’re coming.” The three wolves he tasked took off in a blur of movement. “Rizer pack, let’s go to Freebasin.”

Killian traveled to Freebasin staying close to the alpha pair. He wasn’t about to lose another alpha to these people. Not if he could help it.

It didn’t bode well that the people of Freebasin were already assembling in their town hall. It was too fast. The word could not have spread so quick from the three scouts that arrived ahead. Fear filled the air with its unmistakable acrid odor. It put the entire pack on edge.

Darian and Cara were emanating calm energy, in an effort to soothe the pack. It helped but the smell of fear stung their noses and irritated their wolf spirits.

Errol, Dieter, and Helena approached them with stoic expressions. “They’ve gathered over the disappearances and the abduction of the human woman Unis. I do not think they will welcome our presence at this time,” Dieter said, his deep gray eyes continued to sweep the surroundings.

“Perhaps it is unwise to bring the whole pack inside,” Cara said.

“Dieter, Killian, Errol, and Blanca you’ll come inside with me. The rest of you fall back but stay close enough to answer if I summon you.”

The pack members dispersed as Darian asked. Cara remained at his side and the six of them filed into the crowded building. The onslaught of so much noise and the stench of fear would have been overwhelming for Killian if it hadn’t been for the calming energy, and confidence pouring from the alpha pair.

As the townspeople began to notice them the yelling and arguing died down until it was almost silent as the pack approached the front of the room where, Miles Paragon, the newly appointed official was standing and trying to calm the crowd.

“Welcome, Rizer pack,” Miles said. His smile was sweaty and his heartbeat erratic. At least he was trying to keep his fear under control.

Killian could not help but feel annoyed at the people he passed who began crying at the sight of the pack.

Don’t they see that we’re not attacking them, we’re not coming after them?

“Thank you,” Darian responded.

“Are you here about the young woman a member of your pack returned to us?”

Darian inclined his head. “Partly.”

“Good. There are some of us who are afraid that the pack may have had something to do with her disappearance in the first place and unfortunately, we’re still missing quite a few people.”

More people were coming into the town hall.

As soon as Angeline entered, Killian knew it. He could smell her stronger than anything else. Her long, angel-blond hair was messy, her head slightly bowed and ducking as the three men around her steered her into the crowd like she was a prisoner in danger of escaping.

“That one,” A man stood pointing right at Cara. “She’s the one who had my daughter.”

“Now, Mr. Humphry,” official Humphry began. “I believe you mean to say that she’s the one who brought her back to you. Isn’t, that right?”

Killian returned his gaze to Angeline. She should have been the one to return Unis. It was a human matter. But Angeline didn’t say anything she remained quiet with her eyes on the floor.

Mr. Humphry didn’t say anything. He continued to stare at Cara and the rest of the pack with hatred oozing from every pore.

“We did not take your daughter,” Darian said stepping in front of Cara looking directly at her accuser. “We assisted in her safe return. In fact, we’ve come here today because Unis was not the only human discovered in the forest. There are at least five other victims. Unfortunately, these five others are dead. We discovered their grave and we believe the murderer is among you.”

“It’s one of them,” Mr. Humphry yelled out pointing at the pack. “Are we going to let them keep picking us off? She had my daughter, and my girl hasn’t woken up since she got back. They’ve done something to her.”

Killian again looked over at Angeline. She had to say something. She needed to tell them that she was the one who found Unis. Angeline could stop this if she only opened her mouth and spoke the truth.

The crowd began to respond to Mr. Humphries attempts to start an uprising.

“Everybody calm down,” Official Paragon demanded. “They’ve come here peacefully to try and warn us-”

“He’s just scared of them,” someone yelled. Killian didn’t see who because he couldn’t take his eyes off of Angeline.

How can she just stand there and let this happen?